Garment finishing machine



Feb. 24, 1948. J. H, RICHA GARMENT FINISHING- MACHINE Filed 001;. 15, 1.945 2 Sheets-Sheet l I INVENTOR. Job/7 HAW/20 Feb. 24, 1948. J. H. RICHA GARMENT FINISHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 15, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ATTOR/VE'YF Patented Feb. 24, 194$ UNI TED J'SJT 1 AT ENT OiFFE 2,436,731 GARMENT FINISHING MACHINE. John H; Richa;.Kansas City, Mo. Application October: 15, 1945,.SerialNo. 622,251

This invention relates to ,garmentffinishing machines of the type disclosedin'Unite'dStates Letters PatentNo. 2,284,232, issuedl'to me May 26, 1942.

Finishing machines ofjfthis character require a Fig. '7 is a section particularly illustrating pivcommodate a garmenttailored' for a person havform for supportingta permeable bagjand lover which a garmentji'sappliedpso that the garment is steamed and 'brough'tiito shape by steam and/or air discharged into the bag. {The machine illustrated in the patent is particularly adapted to finish garments of coat-like character but it is diflicult andsometimes impossible to apply dresses and similar narrow-wais'tedl garments over the form for the reason thatthe waistsjofsuoh gar ments will not pass over the shoulder portions of the form.

It is, therefore, a principal object: of the present invention to. provide. a garment finish'ingmachine with a perm'eable bag supporting form having 001- lapsible shoulder portions so as to facilitate application of a dress or a similar'garment,

Itis also an object of the inventionto provide a form with adjustable neck and shoulder eleinents to facilitate shaping of the'form to theneck and shoulder portion of.a garment.

Other objects of the inventionare. to provide a form that is simple and finexpensiveto .construct and which is readily operated and; adjusted 'to support a garment over a permeable bag.

In accomplishing these and other objects offthe invention, I have provided improved structure, the preferred form'of which i'sillustrated in theaccompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 isa perspective view of'a garmentfih'ish-e ing machineembodyingjthe features of the pres!- ing an'erect posture. H 7 I Fig. 8 is a similarsectionhutfshowing the neck adjusted to agarmenttai-lored-to a person having a stooped or rounded-shoulder posture Referring more in detailto th drawings:

I designatesa garment finishing-machine constructed in accordance with the present invention and'espec'ia'lly a'dapt'ed'for finishing dresses and similar smal-l -w'aisted garments. The machine includes a 'loase 2 for containing a sourceof heated air under "pressure such-as a motor actua'ted blower (not shown) steam supply, lines 'and'valves (also notshow-n) for controlling flow out invention; theupper portionof the permeable bag being broken awayyto 'b'etter illustrate the supporting formtherefor, the shoulder portions of'the form being shownin extended;position Fig. 2 is a similar View showingth'e. shoulder.

portions of the form" in collapsed'positionfor re cilitating passageofth'e' waist portionofga gar: ment thereover. H

Fig. 3 isan. enlargedidetailfs'ection through .the neck portionoftheform; particularly illustrating the latch for retainingthe'shoulder supporting arm in extended position. 7 Y

Fig. 4 159." crosssection on"the line 4 4"of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 -is-'a verticars'ection"thzoughthe"upper portion of the bag and its supporting form showing the shoulder supportingarmsin extended position.

Fig. 6 is a similarsection but' showing'theshoul der supporting arms in collapsed positlon."

of steam andair in-tdafahric covered-distributor 3' that projects upwardly from the base. Mounted on the upper endorses distributor is a brac'ket'fl carrying a form assem'loly't including a neck element" and laterally ext-ending shoulder elements 8 and 9 which suspendingly"support a permeable bag l'dhav'ing the general shape ofa' dress or similar garment; The Bracket 4 includes a foot :Il connectedwiththe'distributor 3 by a fastening device such'as a bolt 12 and on which the bracket is adapted to rotate about avertical axis. The foot portion 'o'f the -bracket carries laterally spaced upwardly' 'extendin'g members l3 and M ofiset from the 'axi's-ofmovement of" the bracket for a purpose 'laterdescri-b'ed' The up'periends of the members l Band 1 curve forwardly to journal trunnions l5 and *lB" projecting laterally of a block 11 carrying the -ne'ck'e'lement of the form. In the illustratedinstancethe trunnions consist of cap screws having their shanks extending through openings f8 in-the members l3 and M and into threaded'sockets' 1 9 of the block as best shown in Figs. '5 and 6-. The neck element-includes a neck portionQO; back port'ion 2|,[breast portion 22, and laterally extending shoulder portions 23 and 24 generally conforming to the cor responding parts of thewea'rer of a garment t'o'be finished on the machine,

The neck element" of the form may be con structed of suitable material and is preferably of hollow character so as to'accommodate working parts of the form now to he described.

Extending laterally'of'the' block l'l' below the shoulder portions 23 and 24 are ears 25 mounting pivot pins 26' for pivotally connecting shoulder supporting arms 21 and'28 and. on which the arms are adapted to move from an extended position shown in Fig. '5 to"a= collapsed position shown in Fig. 6. The shoulder supporting arms may be of an suitable shape but are illustrated as being of substantially channel-shape cross section having web portions 29 and side flanges 30 and 3|, the web portions being cut out in the pivoted ends to accommodate the ears 25 and pins 26 of the block.

Slidably supported at the outer ends of the arms are extensions 32 and 33 carrying shoulder supporting pads 34 and 35 adapted to engage within the shoulder portions of a garment. The extensions with the arm may comprise headed studs 33 fixed to and projecting from the inner faces of the web portions of the arms. Said extensions have elongated slots 31 through which the pins pass as shown in Fig. while the sides of the extensions are supported between the flanges of the arms so that they are readily manipulated to adjust the pads 34 and 35 to garments of different shoulder widths. The arms are supported in extended position by links 38 and 39 having one end pivotally connected with ears 4! and 42 on a collar 43 attached to a rod 44, the connections of the links with the ears being provided by pivot pins 45 and 46 and the connections with the arms by pins 45 and 46'. The rod 44 is reciprocable through a bore 41 in the block I! and is normally urged in arm col lapsing position by a coil spring 48 having one end bearing against the collar 43 and its other end against the underside of the block M. It is thus obvious that expansion of the spring forces the rod 43 downwardly to carry the collar 43 therewith and exert a downward pull on the arms through the link connections 38 and 39. The arms are latched in extended position by providing the rod with an annular groove 49 which is adapted to be engaged by a latch plate 50 when the arms are extended. The latch plate is reciprocably mounted transversely of the neck portion of the form and carried between supporting plates 5| and 52. The latch plate 59 has a slotlike opening 53 for passing the rod and to permit reciprocation of the plate so that the edge 54 of the slot may be moved out of latching engagement with the latch groove of the rod. The latch plate is normally urged to latching position by a coil spring 55 sleeved over a tongue 56 on the plate-and having one end bearing against the latch plate and its. opposite end against the neck l portion of the form- The latch plate is moved to unlatching position against action of the spring 55 by a push button 5'! fixed to a forward extension 58 of the latch plate. The extension 58 projects through an opening 59 in the neck portion of the form as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The neck element including the shoulder supporting arm thus provides a unit pivotally mounted on the axis of the trunnions l5 and (6 so that the neck maybe tilted forwardly or retractively as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 to adjust the form to the neck and shoulder portions of the garment.

In order to facilitate movement of the assembly the neck may be provided with an upwardly extending handle 60, which handle may be gripped by the hand to position the neck portion of the form in the garment. The bag 10 generally conforms to the shape 0 a dress and includes a waist portion BI and skirt portion 62. The bag also has shoulder portions .63 and 64 and sleeves 65 and 66, the lower ends of the sleeves being closed to retain the steam or air in the bag as later described, and weighted to facilitate insertion in the sleeve of a garment. The bag is of larger size than the largest size garment to be finished on the form so that when the I bag is inflated the garment will be extended to its original shape.

In using the machine, the supporting arms 21 and 28 of the form are released by pushing on the button 51 to effect release of the latch plate 50 from the latch groove 49 of the rod 44. The spring 48 then expands to shift the collar 43 downwardly and eifect collapse of the shoulder supporting arms to the position shown in Fig. 6. When the arms are collapsed the width of the form is of less size than the waist portion of a dress to be placed thereover.

A dress may then be applied over the bag I3 by drawing the skirt thereof over the top of the form. The sleeve portions 65 and 66 of the bag In are then drawn into the sleeves of the dress whereupon the shoulder supporting arms 21 and 28 are grasped and raised to garment-supporting position. When the arms are being raised. the collar 43 moves upwardly against the action of the spring 48 to compress the spring and move the groove 49 of the rod 44 into latching engagement with the latch plate 50. As soon as the annular groove 49 in the rod registers with the latch plate; the spring 55 (Figs. 3 and 4) will urge the plate into latching contact with the groove. The arms the thus supported to carry the shoulder portion of the garment in proper position. The shoulder arm extensions 32 and 33 are then adjusted to conform to the shoulder width of the garment. The handle 60 on the neck element of the form is tilted to position the neck element within the garment so that the back of the garment fits smoothly thereover; for example, if the dress has been tailored for a person with a stooped posture it will be necessary to move the neck portion of the form into the approximate position shown in Fig- 8. During this movement the rod 44, spring 48 and shoulder supporting arms 21 and 28 tilt; however, due to the offset of the vertical members [3 and I4 of the form, the neck element of the form has ample movement.

The garment is then steamed as in accordance with the method disclosed in the above mentioned patent. This is elfected by introducing steam into the bag by way of the distributor 3 to inflate the bag and cause the steam to permeate through the bag into contact with the garment for softening and raising the fibers. After steaming, the steam supply is shut off and heated air is discharged into the bag to inflate the bag so as to extend the garment to its original shape, the air supply being maintained until the garment is dried to shape whereupon pressure is applied to the button 51. to release the latch plate 50 from latching engagement with the rod 44. The spring 48 is then efiective in collapsing the arms to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 6 whereupon the dress is readily removed over the top of the form.

From the foregoingit is obvious that I have provided a garment finishing machine particularly adapted for finishing narrow-waist garments such as dresses.

It is also obvious that the garments may be readily applied and removed from the form without stretching or tearing the fabric or restricted portions thereof.

It is further obvious that when the supporting arms are extended the bag and garment carried thereon are supported in proper position for the finishing process.-

It is also obvious that the neck element of the form :for'supportingthe -,neck portion oil a l garment, collapsible shoulder supporting means'extending laterally-pf.the neck-wiorm, means for shifting the shoulder supporting means from a collapsedposition to a'p'os'ition ior supporting shoulder'porti'onsof the'garmentfand means for tilting. the neck form" relatively "to the "back and shoulder portions of'thegarment.

2. In agarment iih'isliingapparatus, .a .neck form forsupportlngth neckportion Df'""a;' garment, collapsible shoulder supporting means extendinglaterally "o'f' theneck" Term and having .portionsfb'r. engaging unnertipsf. of the shoulder portions of" a "garment; means "Tor shifting the shoulder supporting means from a collapsed position to a position for supporting said shoulder portions of the garment, and means for tilting the neck form relatively to the back and shoulder portions of the garment.

3. In a garment finishing apparatus, a form including a neck member for supporting the neck portion of a garment, an inflatable bag covering the form and having shoulder and sleeve supporting portions, shoulder supporting means extending laterally of the neck member and having portions for engaging within the shoulder supporting portions of the bag, means for collapsing said shoulder supporting means to facilitate application of a garment over the bag, means for shifting the shoulder supporting means from 001- lapsed position to supporting position, and means for tilting the neck member relatively to the back and shoulder portions of the garment when the garment is placed on the bag.

4. In a garment finishing apparatus, a permeable bag having shoulder portions corresponding to the shoulders of a garment, a neck form adapted to cooperate with the bag in shaping a garment placed on the bag, shoulder supporting means extending laterally of the neck form and having portions for engaging under tips of the shoulder portions of the bag, means for moving said shoulder supporting means to facilitate application of the garment over said bag, and means for tilting the neck form relatively to the back and shoulder portions of the garment when placed on the bag.

5. A garment finishing apparatus including, a neck form, means for rotatably supporting the neck form for movement about a vertical axis, collapsible shoulder supporting means extending laterally of the neck form, means for collapsing said shoulder supporting means to facilitate application of the garment over said shoulder supporting means, and means for shifting the shoulder supporting means from said collapsed position to a position for supporting said shoulder portions of the garment.

6. A garment finishing apparatus including, a neck form, means for supporting the neck form for movement about a vertical axis on the support, a permeable bag movable with the neck form, shoulder supporting means extending laterally of the neck form and having portions for engaging the bag, means for collapsing said shoulder supporting means to facilitate application of a garment over the bag, and means for shifting the shoulder supporting means from said collapsed position to supporting position.

7. A garment finishing apparatus including, a

suppers 'a'kneckiliormiirotatableilabout a vertical axision lreisuppo' shoulder supportingmeans extendin aterallwofrftheineckcform1and having portions foriengaging' 'underitipsrof the. shoulder means for collapsing porting means; 1 eans for -shiiting the shoulder supp'ort'ing rneans irom said collapsed position to a position for supportingsaid shoulder portions of the garment;"aird-rneans for tilting the neck fomrv relatively to {thee back and shoulder portion-s of the garment.

8. A gamentfinishing. apparatus including. a support, a neck ioi'nrrotatable'about' a vertical axis onsthe support, a permeable bag suspended fromttheineckdorm,.shouldensupportinig means extendin' 'laterally of-theinecksrorm andlhaving portion foi'i engagingihebaggi means for collapsing sajd'l sl i'oulder..supportingrmeans to-ifacilitate application of the garment over said shoulder supporting means, means for shifting the shoulder supporting means from said collapsed position to a position for supporting said bag, and means for tilting the neck form relatively to the back and shoulder portions of the garment.

9. A garment finishing apparatus including, a support, a neck form, a bracket carrying the neck form on the support, laterally extending shoulder supporting arms pivotally connected with said bracket, a rod slidably carried by the bracket, links connecting the shoulder supporting arms with said rod, latch means engageable with the rod when the shoulder supporting arms are in extended position to support said arms, and means for releasing said latch means.

10. A garment finishing apparatus including, a support, a neck form, a bracket carrying the neck form on the support, laterally extending shoulder supports pivotally connected with said bracket, a rod slidably carried by the bracket, links connecting the shoulder supports with said rod, latch means engageable with the rod when the shoulder supports are in extended position, means for releasing said latch means, and a spring for urging said shoulder supports into collapsed position on release of the latch means.

11. A garment finishing apparatus including, a support, a neck form, a bracket carrying the neck form on the support, means pivotally connecting the bracket with the support, laterally extending shoulder supports pivotally connected with said bracket, a rod slidably carried by the bracket, links connecting the shoulder supports with said rod, latch means engageable with the rod when the shoulder supports are in extended position, and means for releasing said latch means.

12. A garment finishing apparatus including, a support, a neck form, a bracket, trunnions for pivotally mounting the neck. form on the bracket, laterally extending shoulder supports carried with the neck form, means i'or swivelly mounting the bracket on the support,'a rod slidably carried with the neck form, links connecting the shoulder supports with said rod, latch means engageable with the rod when the shoulder supports are in extended position, and means for releasing said latch means.

13. In a garment finishing apparatus including a neck form, a latch plate having a slot, means slidably mounting the latch plate on the neck form, laterally extending shoulder supports, a rod ried by therod support and extending through the slot of the latch plate, links connecting the shoulder supports with said rod, said rod having a portion to be engaged by the latch plate when the shoulder supports are inextended position, means for releasing said latch plate from engage ment with the engaging portion of the rod, and a spring for urging said shoulder supports into collapsed position on release of the latch plate.

' JOHN H. RICHA.

REFERENCES crrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 921,184 Ufiord May 11, 1909 922,734 Stein May 25, 1909 922,735 Stein May 25, 1909 962,915 Posner June 28, 1910 Number 10 Number 8 Name Date Chace June 3, 1924 Gygi Feb. 14, 1928 Martin Jan. 29, 1935 Jacobs 5.-. Mar. 30, 1937 Richaa. May 31, 1938 Locke et a] June 19, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany May 2, 1881 Great Britain June 28, 1910 France Jan. 16, 1924 (Addition to No. 548,772) Switzerland Mar. 14, 1907 Germany Aug. 17, 1888 Germany June 12, 1889 Switzerland Feb. 28, 1935 Germany May 11, 1933 

